My name is Jo-el. It is not a nick name and is not short for anything. I am a woman, not a man (Joel), and no I am not related to Superman (Kal-El) or his father (Zor-El).

Through the years the stories have changed on how I received my name, so I really don't know. Heck my own mother misspells it on birthday cards!

Every time I go doctor, dentist or even a job interview, I look forward to the moment when someone comes out asking for Joel, expecting a man and their look on their faces when they realize I'm not.

I've struggled with getting my name on credit cards, various web site log in's, and other computer system issues. Computer can't seem to figure out the dash. Is it, Jo minus el? When I use my credit card to pay for something, more often than not I get the standard "you can not use your husbands card". I then must prove I am "Joel".

I've met a couple other "Joelle's" and have googled my name to find one other spelled the same, but it is a man (Jo-el Sonnier - a jazz artist I believe)

I've had to listen to jokes about being related to superman, as a child have to endure kids singing "The first Jo-el" at Christmas time, and having to repeat and spell it out, usually 3 times, until someone finally understand what a dash is...

As a kid I hated it, but over the years, I've come to think of my name as being as unique and interesting as I am. So is it the name that perpetuated me to be more unique or visa versa?

Maybe someday the'll do a theme on last names and I will share my unusual story on that!